Business Notebook

Allison Skipper has joined the S.C. Department of Commerce as marketing and communications director, the agency said Monday. Skipper replaces Amy Love, who will launch and direct the department’s new Office of Innovation. Skipper, a University of South Carolina graduate who previously worked for nine years at the S.C. State Ports Authority in Charleston, will serve as spokeswoman for the department and will lead the strategic communications initiative. Love, a Furman University graduate who earned her master’s in public relations from USC, will lead the state’s effort to support and grow a technology-based, entrepreneurial business environment, the department said.

Allison Skipper has joined the S.C. Department of Commerce as marketing and communications director, the agency said Monday. Skipper replaces Amy Love, who will launch and direct the department’s new Office of Innovation. Skipper, a University of South Carolina graduate who previously worked for nine years at the S.C. State Ports Authority in Charleston, will serve as spokeswoman for the department and will lead the strategic communications initiative. Love, a Furman University graduate who earned her master’s in public relations from USC, will lead the state’s effort to support and grow a technology-based, entrepreneurial business environment, the department said.

lowcountry

Santee Cooper awards contract for state’s largest solar farm

WALTERBORO Santee Cooper has awarded a contract to Liberty Sun Energy to build and operate the state’s largest solar farm, a 3-megawatt project near Walterboro in Colleton County. Construction is expected to begin on the 18-20 acre site Oct. 14, with project completion anticipated by the end of 2013. Santee Cooper will purchase the farm’s solar power in collaboration with Central Electric Power Cooperative and the state’s electric cooperatives. The rural solar farm site is at 1751 Hiers Corner Road, just west of Walterboro. The selected developer will build the solar farm on property owned by Coastal Electric Cooperative, produce the energy and deliver it to Coastal Electric’s distribution system for sale to Santee Cooper.

Upstate

Colgate-Palmolive to hire 300 as it opens soap, deodorant plant

HODGES Colgate-Palmolive Co. is investing nearly $200 million to establish a new production facility in Greenwood County that will employ 300 workers. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced the decision Monday. Job applications will be accepted beginning in March and employment will ramp up as the plant begins operations near year. Officials say the company will make liquid hand soap and deodorant at the facility that will be in an existing 525,000-square-foot building.

Nation & World

Airbus gets first order from Japan Airlines

TOKYO Airbus secured its first-ever order from Japan Airlines on Monday, in a deal that undermines Boeing’s long-held dominance of Japan’s aviation market. Japan Airlines is to buy 31 A350 planes from the European aircraft manufacturer. The purchase has a list value of 950 billion yen ($9.5 billion) and marks a big change in policy as Boeing had been JAL’s major supplier for decades. JAL also has an option to buy 25 more Airbus planes.